Is celebrating birthdays forbidden on the grounds that it imitates the West or that it is an innovation (bid‘ah), taking into consideration that there is imitation of the West in other permissible matters, and that a birthday is a social occasion, not a religious one, and brings joy?

Drawing an analogy between birthday celebrations and traffic systems or other worldly interests is incorrect. This is because worldly matters that do not contradict Islamic law are permissible to adopt from non-Muslims. However, birthday celebrations are not among the festivals of Muslims. It is prohibited to celebrate festivals other than those of Islam, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed, Allah has substituted them for you with what is better than them: the Day of Adha and the Day of Fitr."